Impact of Environmental Regulations on Drilling-Fluid Technology

A multitude of new drilling-fluid products, systems, and treatment processes have been developed recently in response to increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Many fluid additives and systems that once played a major role in the drilling industry are in little use today or are no longer available. New water-based mud systems are approaching the performance levels typical of conventional oil-based muds, levels largely achieved by new synthetic-based fluids. However, these new drilling fluids do not have the adverse environmental impact associated with oil-based systems when waste fluids and cuttings are discarded. 65 refs.